In the main event of the evening, organized by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, Tevin Farmer and William Zepeda Segura stepped into the ring once again last night in Cancun, Mexico, at the Poliforum Benito Juarez.
A packed arena and an electrifying atmosphere, as expected—yet another sign of how boxing in these parts continues to draw crowds without the need for over-the-top ceremonies or borderline grotesque theatrics.
This was a rematch of their bout last November in Riyadh, where Zepeda claimed victory by a razor-thin split decision. This time, they faced off again for the WBC Interim Lightweight Title.
Once again, it was William Zepeda who came out on top, winning by majority decision with the following scorecards: 114-114, 116-112, and 115-113. The result was largely due to the Mexican’s high-volume punching, though he clearly struggled against Farmer’s attacks, particularly in the final three rounds, leaving some doubt about the verdict.
As expected, it was an all-out battle. The fight followed a similar tactical script as their first encounter, with Zepeda relentlessly applying pressure, unleashing a never-ending barrage of punches—a work rate matched by very few in the boxing world today. The southpaw from San Mateo Atenco may not have the most eye-catching style, but he is a true pressure fighter, capable of systematically breaking down his opponents, as evidenced by his impressive 84.38% knockout ratio.
For his part, Farmer attempted to replicate his strong performance from the previous fight, countering and constantly moving to avoid being a stationary target. His continuous movement and ability to slip punches and fire back quickly allowed the 34-year-old to keep his younger opponent at bay. However, the relentless pace forced Farmer to take breathers at times, retreating and clinching when necessary.
Zepeda’s bodywork was, as always, outstanding. He attacked with the clear intention of wearing Farmer down, reducing his mobility, and making him an easier target.
The knockdown Farmer scored in their first fight shouldn’t be misleading—he possesses excellent technique, sharp reflexes, and great speed, but he has never been known for his punching power. As a result, throughout his career, he has alternated between performances that showcased his technical brilliance and others that exposed his physical limitations. In a way, last year’s defeat against a relentless force like Zepeda actually reignited interest in Farmer’s name, as he proved he could go toe-to-toe with a formidable opponent, withstand ten rounds of intense action, and even put the Mexican down.
As expected, Zepeda immediately took the center of the ring, while Farmer maneuvered along the ropes. The first round was a cautious one, with a few bursts of aggression from the Mexican and some effective movement and counterpunching from Farmer. By the second round, Zepeda began pressing with greater intensity. From the start, it was clear that the Mexican wanted to fight at close range, while Farmer tried to keep him at mid-range by using his quick hands.
Late in the round, Farmer slipped, and Zepeda took full advantage, launching a flurry of punches to the head and, more importantly, to the body, putting the American in serious trouble. By the end of the round, Farmer was visibly fatigued, leaning against the ropes to catch his breath.
From this point on, the fight truly ignited. Zepeda began pushing forward as usual, forcing Farmer to engage in exchanges more frequently. The American effectively used a sharp left hook and well-executed uppercuts, but also resorted to clinching to disrupt the Mexican’s relentless attack.
Zepeda’s body shots were relentless and exhausting, while Farmer mostly relied on single punches or short combinations. After a low blow, one of Farmer’s combinations put Zepeda in trouble, as he absorbed three consecutive uppercuts in the closing moments of the fourth round.
A fiery fifth round saw Farmer—seemingly on the verge of collapsing after enduring a barrage of punches, especially to the body—dramatically come back to life in the final seconds, once again thanks to his left uppercut. Paradoxically, the sheer volume of punches Zepeda had thrown to that point had also begun to wear him down.
The round highlighted both fighters’ immense heart but also exposed clear weaknesses: Zepeda’s defense was far from impenetrable, and his punches lacked pinpoint effectiveness, while Farmer struggled with a lack of power and an equally leaky defense.
The middle rounds were perhaps the least eventful, as both fighters showed signs of understandable fatigue. Farmer, who appeared to be the more exhausted of the two, surprisingly had a strong moment in the following round when Zepeda’s usual pressure seemed to fade.
During this phase, Zepeda’s attack became much less consistent and assertive, partly due to Farmer’s constant movement, which made him appear rejuvenated. Just as it seemed the round would go in Farmer’s favor, Zepeda landed a left hook that sent the American to one knee after a brief clinch. Strangely, the referee ruled it a slip instead of a knockdown.
Clearly shaken, Farmer once again showed remarkable resilience, landing a clean left hook followed by another solid left uppercut at the end of the ninth round. As the fight entered the final stretch, Zepeda’s work rate visibly slowed, allowing Farmer to take center stage with a few well-placed left hands.
Zepeda’s forward movement became erratic, and the Philadelphia native capitalized, landing several sharp left hooks. A slip by Zepeda near the end of the fight further exposed his fatigue. In the final moments, two consecutive left hooks from Farmer nearly dropped Zepeda, but the Mexican managed to stay on his feet and tried to press forward—albeit in a disorganized manner.
At the final bell, both fighters looked completely spent.
It was a difficult fight to score: punch volume once again played a decisive role, but the victory was far from clear-cut, especially considering Farmer’s strong finish.
Regardless of the result, both fighters deserve credit for leaving everything in the ring and delivering moments of excellent boxing.